Railway car hopper door operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

A door opening mechanism for use in railway hopper car having pairs of interconnected longitudinally extending discharge gates. The present invention includes a door connecting mechanism which provides sequential operation of associated pairs of discharge doors. The door connecting mechanism uses a linkage which includes a spring loaded varying length floating link element which permits the outer door of each door set to close ahead of the associated inner door and permits overlapping and interlocking of the doors.

United States Patent [191 Schuller et al.

1451 Apr. 23, 1974 RAILWAY CAR HOPPER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM [75]Inventors: James J. Schuller, Dolton; Bradford Johnstone, Country ClubHills, both of I11.

[73] Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: May 19, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 2ss,121

[52] US. Cl 105/251, 105/240, 105/290 [51] Int. Cl B6ld 7/02, B61d 7/18,B61d 7/28 [58] Field of Search 105/240, 250, 251, 290

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,633,515 1/1972 Shaver etal. 105/240 3,581,672 6/1971 Aquino 105/240 1,297,356 3/1919 Junghanns105/290 X 3,455,253 7/1969 Floehr 105/290 X 686,902 11/1901 Muller etal. 105/290 693,132 2/1902 Heiden 105/250 3,137,247 6/1964 Hamilton etal.. 105/251 3,596,609 8/1971 Ortner 105/240 Primary ExaminerRobert G.Sheridan Assistant Examinerl-Ioward Beltran Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Hilmond O. Vogel [5 7] ABSTRACT A door opening mechanism for use inrailway hopper car having pairs of interconnected longitudinallyextending discharge gates. The present invention includes a doorconnecting mechanism which provides sequential operation of associatedpairs of discharge doors. The door connecting mechanism uses a linkagewhich includes a spring loaded varying length floating link elementwhich permits the outer door of each door set to close ahead of theassociated inner door and permits overlapping and interlocking of thedoors.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures RAILWAY CAR HOPPER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

This invention pertains to railway hopper car discharge door operatingmechanisms and in particular to discharge doors operating in pairs andinterconnected by a linkage mechanism which provides for sequentialopening and closing of the associated door pairs.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

Prior art door connecting mechanisms have generally included rigid fixedlength members which must be accurately assembled and machined toprovide the required door operation. The present invention provides avarying length link member which compensates for dimensional variationswhich occur during car manufacture and also to compensate for variationsin the car structure which occur during car use.

SUMMARY This invention relates to railway hopper vehicles havinginterconnected longitudinally extending discharge doors. The presentinvention is directed at a door connecting linkage arrangement whichprovides for sequential opening and closing of hopper doors therebypermitting one door to close ahead of the other thereby permittinglocking elements on the bottom portion of each door to engage forrigidly locking the doors in position.

The operative features of the invention are produced by a spring loadedlink member which interconnects each door and thereby provides a varyinglength link element which extends during door closing to permit theouter door to close ahead of the inner door and thus permits the innerdoor to overlap and support the outer door.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a door connectinglinkage arrangement including a link member which may have a varyinglength and is spring loaded.

It is another object of the present invention to provide hopperdischarge doors arranged in longitudinally extending pairs andinterconnected by a linkage mechanism which permits one of the doors toclose ahead of the other door and allows the other door to overlap andsupport the first door in the closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of arailway hopper vehicle including the longitudinally extending pairs ofdischarge doors;

FIG. 2 is a removed and enlarged sectional view taken along line 22 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a removed and enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a removed and enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. I there is illustrated arailway hopper car having the usual longitudinally extending center sillmember 11 and including a pair of spaced hoppers 12. The hoppers areformed between the side walls and the centrally positioned bulkhead l4and the end slope sheets 16. These slope sheets direct lading toward thehopper discharge opening which is closed off by pairs of dischargedoors, namely, an outer door 18 pivoted at 18a adjacent the car sidesill and an inner door 19 pivoted adjacent-the center sill 11 at 19a.

A pneumatic cylinder 20 positioned adjacent the end portions of thehopper car 11 is the force supplying source for opening and closing thehopper discharge doors. The pneumatic cylinder is operatively connectedwith a first lever member 22 which is spaced from the second levermember 23 and operatively connected thereby by the longitudinallyextending drive member 24. A set of third levers designated by thenumeral 26 are essentially link members connected to and extendingthrough the center sill l 1 and interconnected by a longitudinallyextending drive member 28. Extending transversely from the levers 26 arethe struts or arms 30 which are connected to the levers 26 and the innerdoor 19 of each door pair to a ball and socket connection such asdesignated at 31, and 32. The levers 26 include a pair of transverselyextending strut arms 30 extending in opposite directions to therebycontrol the inner door of each discharge door pair, but, as illustratedin FIGS. 2 and 3, only one of these arms has been illustrated forpurposes of clarity.,lnitial movement of the levers 26 will move thestruts 30 into a past center or in line position of the strut endportions 31, 32 after which positition the weight of lading and the doorweight will force open the doors 18, 19.

The inner door 19 includes a smooth door sheet 34 and the door isreinforced by longitudinally extending channel member 34a and a seriesof transversely extending stiffeners 35 to thereby produce a rigid doormember which will not bulge from the weight of the supported lading. Theouter door 18 likewise includes a door sheet 36 and the longitudinallyextending reinforcing channel 36a as well as the transversely extendingstiffeners 35. The outer door 18 includes a plurality of downwardlyextending locking bolts 37 fixedly attached to the reinforcing channelmember 36a into the door 18 and has a depending lip portion 37a whichis' receivable in the associated locking latch 38 which is securelyattached to the inner door 19. Thus in the door closed position thelocking bolt 37 will cooperate with the locking latch 38 in anoverlapped inserted configuration to provide a mating door structurewhich is interlocked by virtue of the cooperation between the lockingbolt 37 and the latch 38.

The doors l8 and 19 are interconnected for simultaneous and sequentialopening and closing by a four bar linkage which includes a fixed linkassembly 40 which is securely and rigidly attached to the inner door 19and includes a pivot 41 as does the outer door 18 whcih includes a pivot42 and extending between these pivots is the floating link member 43which pivotally interconnects the outer door 18 with the inner door 19.Thus, for determining the operational features of the interconnecteddoors, a first link is defined between the inner door pivot 19a and the'pivot 41, and a second link exists between the outer door pivot 18a andthe pivot 42. The floating link 43 is also the third link of themechanism. By definition in linkage mechanisms, the fourth link of thefour bar mechanism which interconnects the doors 18,19 is a stationarylink existing between door pivot 18a and door pivot 19a.

The floating link 43 is a spring loaded flexible member having a varyinglength between the pivots 41 and 42. The floating link 43 also includesspring loaded member having a cannister 44 rigidly attached to the pivot41 and enclosed at one end by the end cover plate 45. A rod 46 extendsfrom the pivot point 42 through the end cover plate 45 and terminateswith an end cap 47. A compression spring 48 is positioned between theend cap 47 and the cover plate 45 to confine the spring and provide abiasing force when the distance between the end cover plate 45 and theend cap of the rod 47 come together.

THE OPERATION As the pneumatic cylinder is operated by air pressuremoving its piston rod horizontally and longitudinally of the vehicle toactuate the lever members 22, 23 and 26 the strut arms 30 will move to apassed center position at which time the toggle effect design of thelevers 26 and the connected inner doors 19 will force the doors and thelevers past the over-center position due to the weight of the doors andthe weight of lading within the hoppers. In the opening movement theinner door 19 will move from the solid line to the dotted line positionillustrated in FIG. 3 and pivot about the pivot point 19a in acounterclockwise direction. This downward pivoting movement will forcethe floating link 43 in an essentially downwardly and outwardlydirection away from the fixed link assembly 40 in a translatory movementwhich is essentially a clockwise rotational movement plus a horizontaland vertical displacement of the link 43. In such movement the link 43will push the associated outer door 18 in a clockwise pivoting movementto open the discharge area of the hoppers. It will also be noticed thatthe initial rotational movement of the inner door member 19 allows thelocking latch 38 which is attached to the underside of the inner door 19to clear the associated locking bolt 37 which is a part of the outerdoorlS. During this initial opening movement when the inner door clearsthe outer door the floating link 43 will be shortened as the pivot 41moves toward the pivot 42. During this shortening of the floating link43 the distance between the end cap 47 on the rod 46 and the end coverplate 45 of the cannist'er 44 will be increased thereby decompressingthe coil spring 48. It is contemplated. by the design that as clearanceoccurs between the locking members 37, 38 the outer door 18 will thenrotate into the open position.

Likewise, on closing of the hopper doors, the pneumatic cylinder willoperate the levers in a reverse direc-' tion and the strut 30 will becompressed as the door.l9 is rotated toward the closed position. It isunderstood that because the compression spring 48 has becomedecompressed during the opening movement of the doors the distancebetween the pivot 41- and 42 has been shortened, therefore during theclosing the outer door will move into the closed position ahead of theinner door and it is contemplated by the design that as the outer doorreaches a completely closed position the floating link 43 will begin toexpand or increase in length and thereby compress the spring member 48.During this lengthening of the floating link 43 and the associatedcontracting of the spring 48 the inner door 19 will continue to rotatetoward a fully closed position. Thus this sequential closing of thedoors which permits the outer door 18 to close ahead of the inner door19 permits the locking latch 38 to receive the lip portion 37a of thelocking bolt 37. Thus it is noticed in FIG. 3 that when the doors are ina completely closed position the compression spring 48 will have beencompressed by the increase in length between the link piv ots 41 and 42and place the doors in the overlapping interlocked position. But anyweight of lading which is being carried by the doors and tending toforce the doors to pivot open will be restrained by the interlocking ofthe block bolt 37 and the locking latch 38.

The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate theinvention and the invention is not limited thereto, except insofar asthe appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who havethe disclosure before them will be able to make modifications andvariations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A railway hopper car having a center sill and longitudinallyextending pairs of discharge doors comprising an inner door and an outerdoor spaced about said center sill, said hopper car also including dooroperating members associated with the center sill and operativelyconnected to an operating air cylinder and connected to door connectingstruts for opening and closing the pairs of discharge doors, said doorsinterconnected by a door linkage mechanism comprising:

a first link member rigidly attached to the inner discharge door;

a second link member rigidly attached to the outer discharge door;

a third floating link pivotally attached to the first link and to thesecond link;

said floating link having end portions and having a resilient meansconnecting said end portions biasing said end portions toward each otherto shorten said floating link to thereby permit relative movementbetween the link end portions as the resilient member is deflected.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and:

said third floating link having telescoping members including a rod withan end portion and a cannister member having an end cover plate throughwhich said rod extends;

a resilient biasing member surrounding said rod and operativelypositioned between the rod end portion and the cannister cover plate.

3. The invention according to claim 2, and:

said third floating link comprising members having end portions and saidfloating link having a spring member biasing apart said end portions ofthe members.

4. The invention according to claim 1, and:

said outer door having a locking bolt portion extending downwardly andoutwardly therefrom;

said inner door having a locking lip operatively attached thereto;

said inner door and said outer door having spaced pivot points andpositioned for opening and closing rotating movement, and said first,second and third links interconnecting the doors to thereby permitsequential opening and closing of said doors with said outer doorclosing ahead of said inner door and said locking lip receiving saidlocking bolt when the doors are closed.

5. The invention according to claim 4, and:

said first link having portions extending upwardly of the inner doorpivot;

said second link having means extending downwardly of the outer doorpivot;

said third floating link connecting said first and said second link tothereby extend the floating link and compress said resilient means asthe doors are being closed.

6. A hopper device having converging slope sheets and defining adischarge opening, and a pair of pivotally attached doors including afirst door and a second door positioned for rotating movement to openand close off the discharge opening and being operatively connected to adoor actuating arrangement for powered operation of said doors, and adischarge mechanism interconnecting said doors and comprising:

a first link attached to said first door and a second link attached tosaid second door;

a floating third link pivotally connecting both the first link and thesecond link and the associated first and second doors and therebydefining a four bar mechanism providing sequential opening and closingof both the first and the second doors and said doors having overlappingportions;

said floating third link having portions extending from the first linkto said second link thereby disposed to place a tensile load on saidfloating third link during operation of said doors;

said floating third link having intermediate end portions connected byresilient biasing means thereby providing the third link with a lengthwhich is variable in response to tensile loading of the third link.

7. The invention according to claim 6, and:

said intermediate end portions of the third link including telescopingmembers including a rod and end cap portion and a cannister memberhaving an end cover plate through which said rod extends;

said resilient biasing means having portions surrounding said rod andcompressively positioned between the rod end portion and the end coverplate of said cannister.

8. The invention according to claim 6, and:

said overlapping portions of both the first door and the second doorincluding a locking lip portion and an associated locking bolt portion;

said first door and said second door having spaced pivot points andpositioned for opening and closing rotating movement and said first,second and third links interconnecting the doors to thereby permitsequential opening and closing of said doors with said second doorclosing ahead of said first door and said locking lip receiving saidlocking bolt when the doors are closed.

1. A railway hopper car haVing a center sill and longitudinallyextending pairs of discharge doors comprising an inner door and an outerdoor spaced about said center sill, said hopper car also including dooroperating members associated with the center sill and operativelyconnected to an operating air cylinder and connected to door connectingstruts for opening and closing the pairs of discharge doors, said doorsinterconnected by a door linkage mechanism comprising: a first linkmember rigidly attached to the inner discharge door; a second linkmember rigidly attached to the outer discharge door; a third floatinglink pivotally attached to the first link and to the second link; saidfloating link having end portions and having a resilient meansconnecting said end portions biasing said end portions toward each otherto shorten said floating link to thereby permit relative movementbetween the link end portions as the resilient member is deflected. 2.The invention according to claim 1, and: said third floating link havingtelescoping members including a rod with an end portion and a cannistermember having an end cover plate through which said rod extends; aresilient biasing member surrounding said rod and operatively positionedbetween the rod end portion and the cannister cover plate.
 3. Theinvention according to claim 2, and: said third floating link comprisingmembers having end portions and said floating link having a springmember biasing apart said end portions of the members.
 4. The inventionaccording to claim 1, and: said outer door having a locking bolt portionextending downwardly and outwardly therefrom; said inner door having alocking lip operatively attached thereto; said inner door and said outerdoor having spaced pivot points and positioned for opening and closingrotating movement, and said first, second and third linksinterconnecting the doors to thereby permit sequential opening andclosing of said doors with said outer door closing ahead of said innerdoor and said locking lip receiving said locking bolt when the doors areclosed.
 5. The invention according to claim 4, and: said first linkhaving portions extending upwardly of the inner door pivot; said secondlink having means extending downwardly of the outer door pivot; saidthird floating link connecting said first and said second link tothereby extend the floating link and compress said resilient means asthe doors are being closed.
 6. A hopper device having converging slopesheets and defining a discharge opening, and a pair of pivotallyattached doors including a first door and a second door positioned forrotating movement to open and close off the discharge opening and beingoperatively connected to a door actuating arrangement for poweredoperation of said doors, and a discharge mechanism interconnecting saiddoors and comprising: a first link attached to said first door and asecond link attached to said second door; a floating third linkpivotally connecting both the first link and the second link and theassociated first and second doors and thereby defining a four barmechanism providing sequential opening and closing of both the first andthe second doors and said doors having overlapping portions; saidfloating third link having portions extending from the first link tosaid second link thereby disposed to place a tensile load on saidfloating third link during operation of said doors; said floating thirdlink having intermediate end portions connected by resilient biasingmeans thereby providing the third link with a length which is variablein response to tensile loading of the third link.
 7. The inventionaccording to claim 6, and: said intermediate end portions of the thirdlink including telescoping members including a rod and end cap portionand a cannister member having an end cover plate through which said rodextends; said resilient biasing means having portions surrounding saidrod and compressively positioned between the rod end portion and the endcover plate of said cannister.
 8. The invention according to claim 6,and: said overlapping portions of both the first door and the seconddoor including a locking lip portion and an associated locking boltportion; said first door and said second door having spaced pivot pointsand positioned for opening and closing rotating movement and said first,second and third links interconnecting the doors to thereby permitsequential opening and closing of said doors with said second doorclosing ahead of said first door and said locking lip receiving saidlocking bolt when the doors are closed.